Potted beauties face vandal ire

Mango’s green mission is fast running into the danger of been nipped in the bud, literally.

Six of 100-odd potted flowering plants placed along the 800m Mango bridge, the city’s gateway from NH-33, were found damaged on Sunday afternoon. Broken pieces of the pots were found strewn along the pavement.

This has prompted Jamshedpur MP Ajoy Kumar’s city representative Sashi Bhushan to file separate complaints at Mango and Sitaramdera police stations on Monday.

The JVM MP undertook the beautification drive with the state chapter of Confederation of Indian Industry.

“The manner in which pots were damaged was deliberate. The cemented pots had been placed at a distance between five and 10 feet so that pedestrians do not face inconvenience. We have lodged complaints at both police stations, requesting them to increase patrolling and take action against culprits,” Bhushan told The Telegraph.

The Jamshedpur MP’s office has also given out two helpline numbers — 0657-2220855 and 9431111004 — so that anyone can inform them about such occurrence.

“We want police stations to make both numbers public at respective thanas so that people can inform us about such acts 24/7,” said Bhushan, adding they would replace the damaged pots within a week.

SP (city) Karthik S. said he would take up the matter with the respective police stations.

The plants had been given by city-based Flora Horticultural Services.Each plant and pot costs about Rs 1,000.

The MP’s office is supposed to maintain the plants and repair pots for three years, starting October 2013. Thereafter, either Mango Notified Area Committee or Jusco will take over.